Service box



May 28, 1929. P. MUELLiER 1,714,803

SERVICE BOX Filed Oct. 17. 1925 Patented May 28, 1929.

umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnrmr MUELLER, E DECATUR, rumors, ASSIGNOR To ADOLPH MUELLER,

. TRUSTEE, or DECATUR, ILLmoIs. Y

sEavIcE BOX.

, Application died October 17, 1925. Serial No. 63,192.

The present invention relates to improvements in service boxes and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction, the parts of which may be more readily '5 assembled than the constructions heretofore employed.

It is customary to construct boxes of the general character or for the same purpose as the present invention in two sections which are telescopically connected so that the total length of the box may be varied to suit different conditions. 1 Among the objects of the present invention are the provision of an improved means of securing in place the packing provided between the telescoping members, whereby the packing will be more evenly compressed about the upper tubular section so that the telescopic action thereof relative to the base section will be facilitated; and the production of a structure, the several parts of which may be assembled in a minimum amount of time and by relatively unskilled labor.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out and described in connection with the accompanying drawin and in the appended claims.

ferrin'g to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of a service box constructed in accordance With the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the box, illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which the means for retaining the flexible packing in position is applied.

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fi re 1.

Referring to the drawing, in the several views of which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, the improved box like those heretofore commonly employed comprises a base member 1, and an upper member 2, which fits telescopically within the bore of the base member.

The lower end of the base member may be of various forms according to the manner in which it is desired to connect it with the corporation cock fixture. The one illustrated has an internally threaded bore 3 adapted to be engaged with a suitable thread on the body of the corporation cock, the kcyof which extends upward into a relatively enlarged chamber or space 4.

For the purpose of guiding the relative telescopic movement between the members 1, 2, the base member 1 is shown as provided with substantially diamctricall oppositely arranged inwardly extending ri s 5 and ears or lugs 6, formed by slitting and punching outward portions of the lower end of the upper section 2, are adapted to cooperate with the ribs 5 to prevent relative rotary movement between the two members.

At its upper end the bore of the base section 1 is enlarged into an annular recess having a side wall of step form. A suitable washer 7 of non-resilient material, preferably metal, such as brass or wrought iron, is seated on the bottom of such annular recess and on this is placed the body of packing commonly employed in fixtures of this character. The body of packing 8 is held within the annular recess at the upper end of the base section in position to closely embrace and frictionally support the upper member 2, by a metal washer 10, which is retained in operative position by engagement with the peripheral wall 9 of the outer portion of said recess. a

As shown, the wall 9 is inclined inward slightly from its lower to its upper, outer, end, and the retaining washer 10 is of such diameter that it is prevented by said inclined wall from moving outward in the recess, after it has once been forced against the; shoulder 11, on which it rests, and the flexible packing ring 8. I

The retaining washer 10 is initially of substantially cupshape and when the parts are assembled occupies the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, in which its lower edge rests upon the shoulder 11 at the inner end of the upper section-of the enlarged recess in the base member 1. A suitable punch actuated by a power press is employed to flatten the washer 10 and force its peripheral edge into such close engagement with the inclined wall 9 of the recess in the base member as to effectually retain it and the packing ring 8 in position.

The washer 10 acts to compress the packing ring 8 closely about the upper box member 2, thereby serving not only as a friction retaining device, but also as a means for positively excluding dirt from the interior th base member 1.

It will be seen that while the inner washer 7 closely surrounds the upper member of the box, it does not actuall contact therewith, the latter, being retaine in its desired position with relation to the base member 1 solely by the frictional engagement of the 'elding packing ring, which is commonly o flax or other fiber.

By the particular construction above described, it is possible to assemble the several parts more readil than with earlier constructions, in whic 1 a packing ring has been forced into a eripheral groove formed 1n the upper end of the bore of the base member, both walls of said groove being integral with the body of the member. By the present invention the packing ring is readily formed by cutting a suitable length from a strip, and it is effectually compressed to the desired extent and maintained in this condition by thecompressing action of the retaining washer, 10, which is held from outward movement by its engagement with the wall of the recess in which it is seated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a service box, the combination of a base member having one end ada ted for engagement with a main and having its bore enlarged at its other end to provide a recess, the peripheral wall of said recess having a portion of its inner face inclined inward toward the free edge of said wall, a second member extending into the bore of the base member through said recessed end, a compressible non-metallic packing within said recess in annular contact with said second member and the surrounding portion of the base member, and a metal washer within said recess in contact with the outer face of the packing and cooperating with said inclined surface of the peripheral wall of the recess to maintain the packing under such compression as will cause it to exert sufiicient radial pressure on said second member to support the latter and also provide a fluid-tight joint between the memers.

2. In a service box, the combination of a e base member having one end adapted for engagement with a main and having its bore en arged'at its other end to provide a recess,

the peripheral wall of said recess having a portion of its inner face inclined inward toward the free edge of said wall, a second member extending into the bore of the base member throu h said recessed end, a washer seated against the inner end of said recess and through which the second member extends, a compressible packing within the recess, and a metal washer within the recess in contact with the outer face of the packing and cooperating with the inclined surface of the peripheral wall of the recess to compress saidpacking between itself and the washer at the" inner end of the recess to force the packing radially inward beyond the inner edges of the washers and to maintain such close contact of the packing with both the base and second members that said second member is sup ported by said packing.

3. In a service box, the combination of a base member having one end adapted for engagement with a main and having its bore enlarged at its other end to provide a recess of step form in cross section, the inner face of the annular wall of the outer section of the recess having a surface which is inclined inward toward the free edge of said wall, a second member extending into the bore of the base member through said recessed end, a non-metallic packing seated in the inner section of'the recess in the base member in annular engagement with said second member, and a washer seated on the step formed in the peripheral wall of the recess in the base member and projecting radially inward from the inner edge of said step in contact with the packing and compressing the packing and maintaining it in such close annular contact with both the base and said second member as to support said member, the washer being retained in operative position by its engagement with said inclined portion of the wall of the recess in the base member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PHILIP MUELLER. 

